Resumes That Lead To Interviews

Show Employers You are the Ideal Candidate to Solve Their Problems

May 8, 2008 Jon Thompson

Here are some tips to help you write your resume to stir up excitement and interest. Use your experience to entice the prospective employer into interviewing you.

A resume is most likely to elicit an invitation for an interview if it sells the employer on your ability to solve his problem or meet the company's needs. You need to honestly advertise yourself as the ideal candidate.

What Can You Do For the Employer?

Donald Asher, in his book Overnight Resume [Ten Speed Press, July 1999] says “The one thing you must do first is envision the ideal candidate for the job you want”. He advises that applicants need to adopt the potential employer's point of view and ask what you, as an employee, can do for him.

To write an effective resume, you have to learn to write powerful but subtle advertising copy according to the Rockport Institute. A resume is selling a product -- you and your value to the organization. The resume should not just inform the employer, it should generate interest and excitement in you as a candidate by showing that you can provide what the employer really wants.

What Does the Employer Want?

Finding out what an employer wants can be as simple as carefully reading the position announcement. Look for keywords in the advertisement that clearly communicate a message about specific job functions such as customer retention, customer satisfaction, and productivity improvement.

According to Wendy S. Enelow, in her book Best Keywords for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews [Impact Publications, April 2003] "Resumes must be action-driven and clearly demonstrate the value you bring to a company…" She says there is no better way to accomplish this than with the use of powerful keywords.

In your resume, use the keywords the employer used in the position announcement. Sell the employer on how your past achievements demonstrate your ability to meet or exceed his expectations for the position.

Donald Asher cautions that even though your resume needs to impress the employer, never lie. Honesty in the application process is a must. It demonstrates your integrity. If you aren’t honest, any fabrication can eliminate you from consideration or, if hired, can be used to terminate your new employment.

Spin Your Past to Fit The Employer's Needs

Don’t lie about your qualifications or experience. Assess them and select the aspects of your activities and abilities directly relevant to the employer’s needs. By focusing on those aspects of your past employment and experience that are specifically related to the position, your resume will have the best chance of surviving the next cut.

Regardless of your experience, isolate aspects that closely relate to the employer’s needs. As Jay Block, a professional resume writer says in 101 Best Resumes to Sell Yourself, [McGraw-Hill, March 1997] "Your resume must cry out to prospective employers how you can contribute to them, solve their problems, and meet their organizational needs".

Show the employer:

  • you understand his needs
  • you are the candidate who can fill them

The resume is the tool to sell you as the answer he is looking for.

Your Work History

The description of past work history shouldn’t be an exhaustive list of every duty and responsibility. The employer wants to know about things you have done in the past that show you can solve her present problem.

Demonstrate that you have successfully tackled challenges similar to what the prospective employer is facing. She can extrapolate that your past success will be repeated if she employs you.

Before you write your resume answer these questions:

  • What qualities would the "ideal candidate" for the position have?
  • What does the employer really need?
  • How will your past experience fill her current need?
  • What can you do for the employer?
  • How can you use her keywords to describe what you can do for her company?

Use the answers to make an effective sales presentation showing you are the ideal candidate. If your resume gets you into the interview, it has accomplished its first purpose.

The copyright of the article Resumes That Lead To Interviews in Career Advice is owned by Jon Thompson. Permission to republish Resumes That Lead To Interviews in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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